# Hello? Songs about phones/phone calls **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [July 18, 2019, 5:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hello-songs-about-phones-phone-calls/837263 "2019-07-18T17:14:43Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2019, 3:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hello-songs-about-phones-phone-calls/837263/81 "2019-07-19T15:37:49Z")
[Telephone and Rubber Band](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RWZ4pve5Mkc) by Penguin Café Orchestra. There are no lyrics; it is literally the sound of a tape loop of a UK telephone ring tone intersected with an engaged tone, accompanied by the twanging of a rubber band (and later some strings). [Hey Eugene](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9vf4X6WKPtk) - Pink Martini ---
**Author:** ![bibliophage](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bibliophage/32/7615_2.png) [@bibliophage](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bibliophage)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2019, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hello-songs-about-phones-phone-calls/837263/82 "2019-07-19T16:08:28Z")
> [@ElvisL1ves](#): > > Harry Chapin’s “WOLD” And _Cat’s in the Cradle_ > [@](#): > > I’ve long since retired and my son’s moved away > I called him up just the other day > I said, I’d like to see you if you don’t mind > He said, I’d love to, dad, if I could find the time > You see, my new job’s a hassle, and the kids have the flu > But it’s sure nice talking to you, dad > It’s been sure nice talking to you > And as I hung up the phone, it occurred to me > He’d grown up just like me > My boy was just like me ---
**Author:** ![mbh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a6a055/32.png) [@mbh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mbh)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2019, 4:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hello-songs-about-phones-phone-calls/837263/83 "2019-07-19T16:09:20Z")
> [@Aspidistra](#): > > I’m seriously the first one to mention [ABBA](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TL0EoXdpOqg)? Woot! > > _Ring, ring, why don’t you give me a call? > Ring, ring, the happiest sound of them all_ > > Bonus retro points for the phone being \* on the wall\* Bonus retro points for miming a rotary dial phone (2:33) ---
**Author:** ![Ulf\_the\_Unwashed](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/b4bc9f/32.png) [@Ulf\_the\_Unwashed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ulf_the_Unwashed)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2019, 4:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hello-songs-about-phones-phone-calls/837263/84 "2019-07-19T16:40:35Z")
> [@Ulf\_the\_Unwashed](#): > > … > “Farewell My Own” from HMS Pinafore includes the lines “no telephone/ communicates with his cell.” Not bad for 1878. I’m now wondering what’s the earliest published/performed song that includes a reference to the telephone. Bell’s patent was issued in 1876, and Gilbert’s lyric appeared in the first half of 1878. I’d be shocked if that was the first, but what came before it? Hmm… (The full verse, sung by four characters as part of an octet in which a sailor is being imprisoned for daring to love the captain’s daughter: “He’ll hear no tone Of the maiden he loves so well; No telephone Communicates with his cell.”) ---
**Author:** ![Peter\_Morris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peter_morris/32/359_2.png) [@Peter\_Morris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peter_Morris)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2019, 5:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hello-songs-about-phones-phone-calls/837263/85 "2019-07-19T17:23:51Z")
Bananaphone [Original](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dIiZ3vvZ78s) Or the [barbershop quartet](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ESWi63VIAjc)version ---
**Author:** ![J-P\_L](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/j-p_l/32/3156_2.png) [@J-P\_L](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/J-P_L)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2019, 5:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hello-songs-about-phones-phone-calls/837263/86 "2019-07-19T17:55:55Z")
[Blake Shelton - Austin](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bb1DTsxBOfE) ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2019, 6:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hello-songs-about-phones-phone-calls/837263/87 "2019-07-19T18:02:29Z")
_The phone rings in the middle of the night My father yells, “What you gonna do with your life?” Oh daddy dear, you know you’re still number one But girls, they wanna have fun_ ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2019, 6:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hello-songs-about-phones-phone-calls/837263/88 "2019-07-19T18:04:38Z")
The Fifth Dimension, “Last Night” _Last night I got to think maybe I should call you up And just forget my foolish pride I heard your number ringing I went cold inside Last night I didn’t get to sleep at all_ ---
**Author:** ![skdo23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a5b964/32.png) [@skdo23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/skdo23)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2019, 6:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hello-songs-about-phones-phone-calls/837263/89 "2019-07-19T18:13:54Z")
_Rikki Don’t Lose That Number,_ Steely Dan _Don’t Lose My Number,_ Phil Collins ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2019, 6:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hello-songs-about-phones-phone-calls/837263/90 "2019-07-19T18:18:08Z")
Strut this like Michigan J. Frog: _… If you refuse me, honey, you’ll lose me, and you’ll be left alone So baby, telephone, and tell me I’m your own!_ ---
**Author:** ![EinsteinsHund](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/einsteinshund/32/8400_2.png) [@EinsteinsHund](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EinsteinsHund)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2019, 6:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hello-songs-about-phones-phone-calls/837263/91 "2019-07-19T18:18:36Z")
Stiff Little Fingers - [Closed Groove](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZZque8_hwhs) \*Beep beep I’m an answering machine I mean to say I say what I mean Beep beep I’ve got very strong views Plug in any loop tape you choose Speak whenever you hear this tone… Scream whenever you hear this tone\* ---
**Author:** ![skdo23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a5b964/32.png) [@skdo23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/skdo23)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2019, 6:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hello-songs-about-phones-phone-calls/837263/92 "2019-07-19T18:21:32Z")
_Car Phone,_ Roger McGuinn ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2019, 6:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hello-songs-about-phones-phone-calls/837263/93 "2019-07-19T18:39:09Z")
[The Phone Call](https://youtu.be/GWkSRoeRv_8) by the Pretenders. Every song on that first album was post-punk perfection. ---
**Author:** ![bordelond](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bordelond/32/150_2.png) [@bordelond](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bordelond)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2019, 6:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hello-songs-about-phones-phone-calls/837263/94 "2019-07-19T18:42:54Z")
[“Obscene Phone Caller” by Rockwell](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0HdOqhjuph8) I came home knocked out after work That’s when my telephone goes berserk. How can I unwind or get some rest Receiving sick phone calls from a lonely pest. Find someone else to bother Mister or Miss/ Obscene Phone Caller Why do you get off breathing on that phone? ---
**Author:** ![bordelond](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bordelond/32/150_2.png) [@bordelond](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bordelond)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2019, 6:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hello-songs-about-phones-phone-calls/837263/95 "2019-07-19T18:45:18Z")
[“Mr. Telephone Man”, New Edition](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SkS0XApMJuE) Mr. telephone man, there’s something wrong with my line When I dial my baby’s number, I get a click every time Mr. telephone man, there’s something wrong with my line When I dial my baby’s number, I get a click every time When I dial 6-1-1 repair service She said “hello, may I help you please” I told her something must be wrong with my phone Cause my baby wouldn’t hang up on me ---
**Author:** ![JKellyMap](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jkellymap/32/15880_2.png) [@JKellyMap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JKellyMap)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2019, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hello-songs-about-phones-phone-calls/837263/96 "2019-07-19T18:48:31Z")
> [@EinsteinsHund](#): > > Lou Reed - [New York Telephone Conversation](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q7gBPBBZHw4) And his wife Laurie Anderson’s **O Superman** , with the spoken voicemail message. ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2019, 7:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hello-songs-about-phones-phone-calls/837263/97 "2019-07-19T19:17:50Z")
> [@bordelond](#): > > [“Obscene Phone Caller” by Rockwell](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0HdOqhjuph8) Good one. I’m surprised I didn’t think of it; Eighties Me would have gotten it right away. ---
**Author:** ![skdo23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a5b964/32.png) [@skdo23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/skdo23)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2019, 8:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hello-songs-about-phones-phone-calls/837263/98 "2019-07-19T20:13:14Z")
_Phony Calls,_ Weird Al Yankovic ---
**Author:** ![Two\_Many\_Cats](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8dc957/32.png) [@Two\_Many\_Cats](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Two_Many_Cats)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2019, 8:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hello-songs-about-phones-phone-calls/837263/99 "2019-07-19T20:27:42Z")
Country music has some of these: ["He’ll have to Go](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=whxFcO3rFRo) by Jim Reeves. [This hilariously awkward number](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AQ1VA3BjPlQ) by Loretta Lynn and Conway Twitty. ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2019, 8:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hello-songs-about-phones-phone-calls/837263/100 "2019-07-19T20:28:58Z")
> [@ElvisL1ves](#): > > Strut this like Michigan J. Frog: > > _… If you refuse me, honey, you’ll lose me, and you’ll be left alone > So baby, telephone, and tell me I’m your own!_ Mentioned by **Peter Morris** in post #62. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hello-songs-about-phones-phone-calls/837263.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hello-songs-about-phones-phone-calls/837263.md?page=6)